London: 15:37 Birmingham: 15:36 Sheffield: 15:30 Southport: 15:34 Jerusalem: 15:58 London: 16:47 Birmingham: 16:50 Sheffield: 16:50 Southport: 16:56 Jerusalem: 17:18 How do you launch a book during a pandemic? Sadly there can be no signing in Waterstones but we're thrilled to be able to invite You&US readers to a special online launch.
To mark our 150th anniversary, we have produced a quite stunning new book featuring unique artefacts from the private collection of Professor David Latchman CBE. The book, The US: 150 Years of Service, provides a fascinating glimpse into the great events of the day over our 150 years of existence.
Did you know, for example, that Queen Victoria survived eight assassination attempts? In the book you can read a prayer of thanksgiving for her survival offered by the Jewish community. You can also see images of Chief Rabbi Hertz standing in the bombed ruins of the Great Synagogue in 1941, prayers said for the modern State of Israel on its founding and the kosher china used on Cunard transatlantic liners.
We will be launching the book this Monday evening at 8pm with Professor Latchman who will be in conversation with Miriam Marson, our US150 project manager and Judaica Coordinator.
The event will include an introduction from the Chief Rabbi. Click here to watch the programme and click here to order your advance copy of the book.
Vroom vroom
Our Chanukah van has clocked up the miles over the last week visiting two dozen venues including many of our shuls and Jewish schools. More than 4,000 adults and children got to enjoy a Chanukah programme and of course a tasty doughnut or two.
Tribe's Chanukah drive-in on Sunday at the RAF Museum was a roaring success. Some 700 people enjoyed the Covid-secure event from the comfort of their cars. Chanukah candles were lit and there was plenty of entertainment for the children including fire jugglers, singing and a quiz on a large screen. Refreshments were also provided in the form of doughnuts and hot chocolate. Parent Adam Baron told us: “This was a brilliant event, creating pure joy and happiness on Chanukah when so many of our usual events and gatherings have had to be cancelled because of Covid. The kids had the time of their lives, as did we!"
And salt beef doughnuts took centre stage as Young US held their first ever drive-in cinema event. Some 50 young people watched a film on a big screen and enjoyed candle lighting and good food.
We thank our colleagues at Kinloss for their ideas and support to bring these events to fruition!
Shabbat shalom and have a wonderful last day of Chanukah,
Richard Verber Communications Director United Synagogue In conversation with HE Mrs Tzipi Hotovely Earlier this week, HE Mrs Tzipi Hotovely, the 18th Ambassador of Israel to the Court of St James’s and the first woman to be appointed to the position, was in conversation with our president Michael Goldstein. The Israeli Ambassador spoke about her upbringing, what it's like to start this new role during a pandemic, and how to connect young people with Israel. Watch the programme by clicking on the link below. Tribe's Chanukah van! The Tribe Chanukah van, featuring our fabulous Tribe Rabbis - Rabbi Cobi Ebrahimoff and Rabbi Eli Levin, and Tribe's Tomor Belovski, visited numerous schools and communities to bring them music, stories, games and activities for Chanukah. Close to 3,000 children enjoyed the visit of the Tribe van and loved the special Chanukah gift bag they received with doughnuts! WE ARE LOOKING FOR... US School Foundation Governors Foundation Governors make an important contribution to our local community and the wider Jewish future. Becoming a Foundation Governor allows you to shape the education our children receive. To find out more about the role, please click on the link below. What is the best way to share? Click here to watch this week's D'var Torah by the Chief Rabbi. SHENLEY UNITED SYNAGOGUE An evening of Italian Jewish cookery Join Shenley for a cooking demonstration by Silvia Nacamulli, an Italian-Jewish cookery expert living in London, who will be making chicken breast with pomegranate and honey. The recipe can be found here. Watch on Monday 21 December at 7.30pm, live on Zoom. EDGWARE UNITED SYNAGOGUE 150 years of the Minhag Anglia Join Edgware as they hear from Rabbi Raymond Apple, who will be discussing the Minhag Anglia and looking at the way in which the United Synagogue sought to preserve Jewish laws and customs whilst embracing modernity. Sunday 20 December at 3pm, live on Zoom. COCKFOSTERS & N SOUTHGATE SYNAGOGUE CLC presents: Rabbi Shaul Robinson Rabbi Shaul Robinson will be speaking live from New York, and will be talking about his criticism of those who single out Jews as being responsible for ignoring coronavirus health and safety measures. This is a free event but booking is essential. Next Tuesday (22 December), 2pm.
Welcome to 'Tell US', our new section where we invite you to contribute a joke, a poem or a story. We look forward to turning the spotlight on your literary creations over the coming weeks and months!
This week's contribution is by Paul Blakeley.
Persecution
Many Jews have had their cases packed Said to be an undeniable fact But to understand this mystery One must look back in history.
In ancient Egypt the Jews were slaves With many going to their graves Then from Egypt they did flee Wandering the desert aimlessly.
Next came the Greeks who ruled Judea Which for the Jews was a bad idea Sabbaths, feasts and scriptures banned And this in the Jews' own Holy Land.
The Middle Ages saw no respite The Jews continued with their plight “Christ-killers” the Jews were named And for Christ’s death they were blamed.
Edward I expelled all English Jews And then in France the same abuse Then the Inquisition came to Spain Convert, face death, or you can’t remain.
Many Jews fled across the sea In response to the Spanish Royal Decree Nineteenth century Jews in Russia saw The implementation of racist law.
The Bolsheviks' pogroms viewed with dread And across Europe many a Jew fled But then the biggest crime to all humanity When Nazism spread with its insanity.
Its evidence is no need to be retold Memories of the Holocaust we will always hold In the name of their faith the people we did lose Six million slaughtered for being Jews.
There are those who would like to see us gone But if our history is to be relied upon Despite those centuries of persecution We shall continue with our evolution.
For as Jews we live with resilience and pride And on these tenets we can be relied So to the packed case we can conceive History teaches us, “be prepared to leave”.
Please send your submissions to youandus@theus.org.uk.
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